The Overview: 

Digital forensics companies are responsible for recovering, analysing, and securing critical evidence from electronic devices, often in sensitive or high-stakes cases. Traditional forensic practices involved using physical hard drives to capture evidence, which posed challenges around storage costs, data reliability, and operational efficiency. Imperium Cloud Solutions worked with a digital forensics firm to modernise their processes through a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure, integrating Azure Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) with cloud-based forensic tools hosted in Azure AVD, Azure App Services and Azure Kubernetes.

The Challenges: 

The firm was facing several issues with its existing infrastructure:

1. Expensive Storage: Relying on physical hard drives for storing forensic images resulted in high costs for constantly purchasing new drives.

2. Reliability Concerns: Physical drives are prone to failure, creating a single point of risk for storing crucial evidence.

3. Inefficient Imaging Process: Using traditional spinning disks to image to and process from was slow and inefficient, hindering productivity and case turnaround times.

4. High Hardware Costs for Analysis: Forensic analysis required heavy-duty workstations, which were costly and difficult to scale.

The Solution:

Imperium Cloud Solutions implemented a Hybrid Cloud Architecture for the firm, integrating Azure HCI with cloud-based forensic tools and services to streamline operations. This solution combined high-performance on-site storage with the scalability of the cloud.

1. Centralised Storage with Azure HCI: The solution integrated Azure Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) for local, high-performance storage, which allowed the firm to image directly onto fast, centralised. Azure HCI provided the benefits of high availability and data replication, ensuring the storage was reliable and protected against hardware failure. This approach eliminated the need for expensive physical hard drives while reducing the risk of data loss, as multiple storage nodes replicated data across the system. The performance of the networked storage was far superior to traditional hard drives, significantly improving the imaging and processing process.

2. Cloud-Based Forensic Tools with Azure AVD, Azure App Services & Azure Kubernetes: The firm also adopted cloud-based forensic tools hosted on Virtual Desktops, App Services and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). These services enabled the firm to run resource-intensive forensic applications in the cloud, avoiding the need for costly on-premise workstations. With Azure Virtual Desktop, the firm could quickly deploy and scale forensic software applications to handle various forensic tasks such as image verification, data recovery, and evidence analysis. Meanwhile, App Services and Azure Kubernetes provided container orchestration, enabling the firm to efficiently run forensic workloads in scalable containers, maximising resource utilisation and streamlining operations.

3. Cost and Operational Efficiencies: The cloud solution significantly reduced the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining physical hardware for storage and analysis. Azure HCI ensured that storage was more reliable, reducing downtime and data retrieval risks. Additionally, the firm no longer needed to invest in expensive workstations, as forensic applications could now run in the cloud, accessed via Azure Virtual Desktops (AVD). This approach allowed the firm to scale resources based on case demands, optimising costs.

4. Faster Evidence Imaging: With the ability to capture forensic images directly to networked storage via Azure HCI, the imaging process was faster and more efficient. The speed of the storage network meant that imaging and processing could take place quickly, reducing the time spent on each case and improving overall case throughput. This enhancement not only improved operational efficiency but also provided the firm with faster results, which is crucial in forensic investigations.

5. Improved Security and Compliance: Security and data integrity were paramount, and Azure HCI provided robust features such as encryption and secure access controls. The cloud-based tools hosted on Azure were fully compliant with industry standards, ensuring the firm met the necessary legal and regulatory requirements for handling sensitive evidence.

The Results and Benefits: 

The hybrid cloud solution resulted in several key benefits for the firm:

• Cost Reduction: By eliminating the need for physical hard drives and high-cost workstations, the firm achieved significant savings. Azure HCI replaced the need for expensive individual storage devices, while the cloud-based forensic tools eliminated the need for on-premise analysis hardware.

• Improved Reliability: Data replication and high-availability features within Azure HCI ensured that evidence storage was secure and resilient, reducing the risks associated with hardware failure.

• Faster Imaging and Case Turnaround: Network storage provided faster data transfer speeds, improving the imaging process. The ability to quickly capture forensic images meant the firm could handle more cases within shorter timeframes.

• Scalability and Flexibility: The firm could scale cloud resources easily to meet changing demands. Whether working on a large-scale investigation or a small case, the cloud infrastructure could be adjusted quickly without the need for large upfront investments.

• Streamlined Forensic Analysis: By utilising Azure Virtual Desktop, Azure App Services and Azure Kubernetes, the firm accessed powerful forensic tools without the need for expensive physical infrastructure. The cloud-based tools could be scaled and updated efficiently, ensuring the team always had access to the latest technologies and resources.

Conclusion: 

Imperium Cloud Solutions successfully enabled the digital forensics firm to adopt a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure, combining Azure Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) for fast and reliable storage with cloud-based forensic tools running on Azure App Services and Azure Kubernetes. The firm realised substantial cost savings, faster imaging, improved reliability, and enhanced scalability. This solution transformed the firm’s forensic capabilities, streamlining their operations and ensuring that they could handle digital evidence with greater efficiency and security.

This case study illustrates how hybrid cloud solutions, when integrated with high-performance storage and cloud-based forensic tools, can help digital forensics firms improve productivity, reduce costs, and better meet the demands of modern investigations.

For more information on how Imperium Cloud Solutions can help your digital forensics firm leverage hybrid cloud solutions, contact us today.